Count Brühl

f grief or mourning in the town, but a general fe

n near the castle and in Taschenbur

ny face. Every courier on horseback was an object of curiosity to the crowd who tried to guess his errand. The people whispered but did not dare to speak aloud. K?nigstein was near, and it seemed that at the head of the government the same officials would remain, carrying out the same policy, for

ything was quiet. They only knew that, the day before, he

uiet. The smaller officials did not kno

romoted to the rank of councillor the people still called by that

a good woman was a veritable torture to her husband, for she bore such evident traces of her low origin, that he could not bring her forward. Notwithstanding her love for her lord and master, she tormented him by her talkativeness

ent and cunning man, two qualities necessary for a life among intrigues,

ok out a snuff-box and handing it to Henni

you think, ho

; I wait and watch,' an

hink,

into each

world say?' a

will be driven away and perhaps imprisoned; others say that Br

g Brühl, I shall help them: should Brühl be successful in overthrowing them, I shall help Br

-comer

afe policy is to wait and no

rselves, I wager you anything you like--even my wife against another better-looking one, for she tried me to-day by her prattle--that Brühl will not fall and that nobody will be able to

dre Guarini passes from the Prince to the Princess; Sulkowski watches t

be lost,' s

l not be satisfied if she becom

her a Queen,' said

rt lackey entered the house. Henniche ran to the door; Globig took his hat. There was a knock and the lackey appeared holding a letter in his hand. Hen

ey remai

ling, 'a great deal of money is needed.

ards the door; Henn

e we shall alway

fall,' said the host

the contrary, if one of us should fall, the other must

ll, push each

ire no help from ea

shook

r in the ante-room; this was a tall man with thin

e also,' said He

man enter

news? Do we

tient and wait,

stion of our skins!' a

t cover a comfortable seat. Everything rests on someone wh

expected; Sulkowsk

reside at state councils in Protestant Saxony, unless he becomes a Lutheran, and s

Councillor Globig, 'I

g a row of long teeth, 'that h

tion of the diet

y is not Poland, where the nobles do as they plea

door and at that moment there appeared a large, fat man

her council

?' said he slowly u

enniche angrily 'speaking frankly,

lf and makes a compromise with his conscience, lest he should seem to be against the rising sun by saluting the s

all l

u who know everything, tel

day, who is his friend and who his foe? One must be silent, one must cry with one eye and laugh wit

said the h

aid Hammer. 'To-day, everybody serves hi

new?' said Globig in a lo

uch news, but I shall not

rew n

the succession to the principality of Saxony, but to get the Polish crown Sapiech

owski last?'--aske

at the head,' said Hammer; 'and no

ollowed by the others. The host remain

them looked round cautiously, and t

The same curiosity was aroused in other houses of the capital of S

e most powerful although the most modest man in the court, received his friends. The modest old man would have contented himself with a couple of rooms, but as he was obliged to receive many distinguished guest

es were delicate, aristocratic but faded. A sweet smile brightened his face. His forehead was high and white, his eyes were large and dark; a R

he entered without asking any questions and without giving his name. The old s

st at the same moment; not a little surprised at seeing the new-

kissed each other's shoulders, G

elf that I should come to-day. You can guess what brings me

ter asking for instruct

to you. Lock the do

answered Guarini, 'we

is going to happen? Are you afraid of anything? Do you

ich he was going to say. Although the s

ce is a zealous Catholic, the Princess, if it were possible, is still more zealous. The fir

e in the future. The Prince is good, of weak character, and lazy

to the eyes of the stranger, put one

s ambition is stronger than his faith; his longer influence wo

ible to overthrow him,' said the gue

rince, there will ever arise the blood and the passions of Augustus the Strong? Is it possible? Then of wh

anger f

loomy,' said he 'we m

he Prince a man whom we can be sure will serve us, who would also depend upon us. Frederick is lazy, we must make him a soft bed, pr

stranger

'that for so great a purpose, we

nt,' quoted Guarini quietly. 'We cannot limit

is about the salvation of our souls, about holding our position here, where previously Luther was omnipotent. We have too

listened

ience would direct, but often like a pulcinello of the Prince, like an impresario behind the stage, like a councillor there, where advice is nece

o each other,' said the guest.

d by the cords of their own passions.--We are sure of the Princess; our first duty is, if possible, to make her influence stronger. But that most pious lady, I am forced to adm

and then

self; in order to keep the King under his domination, he will give him ever

hat m

ence has given us a tool. We

t,' said t

ura sit aut aliqua religio falsa confirmaretur, alias ittam dissimulare licet, aliqua causa legitima interveniente.[1] Brühl shall be or rather is a Catholic. We shall find him a Catholic wife, whom he will accept from the Pr

you sur

ni sm

tempt to betray us, he would fall to-morrow;

aid the stranger after a moment of thought, '

ance two years' work, using all possible means, but with God's help vict

on the Princ

ing been his confessor for so

e Princess?' a

od has not endowed her with any feminine

not persuade him to lead the lasc

to create a public scandal, but it would be impossible to put a bridle on his passions. They w

nger bec

be obliged to soil oneself f

goat, such as I,' said Guarini

rupted the vis

ur orders?'

answered the stranger. 'In the meanwhile you mu

wife to fulfil his father's last wish. Sulkowski shall only

will be able to

o has not the slightest idea of danger, and Brü

Brü

y ready to crush his enemy, and suffers from no qualms of conscie

lent, the stra

version?' asked he a

uls, which our fishermen's nets pull to the shore, are not worth much. Their descendants may pay for our labour. And

t is

r with him dogma is of secondary importance, but a new social organisation, which he proposes to build. Falsehood takes the brightness from truth.

the guest, with animation. '

f that republic. Separated, but living in the same spot, there dwell troops of women, girls and children. They are united by joining in common prayers and meals. The powerful lord, Co

r listened

the spreading of he

d Guarini. 'Investigations were made,

ommitted some abomina

fferent creeds, but they are united in one strange community, in which there is no private pr

med the stranger. '

y ruled by Christ, you may guess how marriages are contracted. The you

e things. But may they

ands of maidens with purple sashes, of marri

uest

ll not suffer t

arini. 'Zinzendorf shall be banishe

seen this

llingly with them, not about theology, however, but about the first Christians, their life and our

rini, having excused himself, went to the ante-room where he foun

given, and he settled himself to write as though in his own house. Padre Guar

father's death. He held a pipe, his head drooped, and he was silent as us

chair and kissed his hand. At a little distance stood Sulkowski, who would not leave his m

a little distraction would be necessary; consequently his manner was almost jovial, he took

is natural and necessary. Too intense grief is injurious to the health, and then your

ince s

one had put him into vinegar; he cries because he cannot play tricks on Hor

Prince: 'but it would not be decorous for

uit was

nd fro. The Padre tried to read the Count's face, but saw only pride and self-satisfaction. The Prince poin

odded in sig

ng the conversation would bore

usement for your Royal High

, 'that with your good-wil

at whom the Prince was looking and no

and faithful servants there. Wh

if authorising him to answer. The

the coming election. But who knows that Leszezynski, France an

,' said the Prince. 'H

i became

put the crown of a king on the

ly. 'It is due to her; she cannot rema

thoughtful. It seemed that he would talk further on t

st be very amusing; you say they

s, but I don't know whether they s

aughed aloud, then he put his han

g while that Frederick bent agai

u seen F

swered t

te her very much. E una diva! She sings like an angel! No other can rival her. I shall

d aside, and then came near the Prince. Fre

prime minister-

is hands softly. 'Saxony is to be congratulated at having at

ce looke

ing a Catholic as my prime minister

hl,' said the Jesuit, 'but

answered: 'Pshaw!'

ly at the Jesuit, who assum

s announced, and the Prince

he said bending to kiss Frederick's hand. 'I am

d the Prince sighing. 'Al

r the Poles,' said Moszynski w

and exclaimed as if he h

s that were left in Wilanow. I must have them! Send someone by porte-

re black,' s

,' enumerated the Prince. 'P

there,' said Moszynski. 'Whe

s Madonna! Take it from the Saxony Pal

nski

er orders?

ers; my father was

anxious that his master should have that of which he was fond, went to tell a

; Moszynski waited in vain, for the Prince was so much a

d and took his leave. Frederick smiled on h

the Prince remained with Guarini. Hardly had the

s, but when Frosch begins to abuse Horch, and the latter begins to kick, and

ce's appreciation of the comical

into the dining-room to-morrow; but later on, f

return to the guest he had left at his house. The P

ugh he is a Protestant. He shall be quickly converted, for he

answer; he bow